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OUR ACHILL ISLAND ADVENTURE

At Dookinella Beach on Achill Island. They say it in stone.

So, now it begins, back to the grind after our fantastic Achill Island Adventure. Last month we were frantically busy, getting our design and print projects finished for their deadlines and securing a space for our planned and long awaited two week holiday to the west coast of Ireland. And what a two weeks it was. Achill Island in County Mayo provided us with exactly what we needed, the remoteness, culture, and on this occasion, great weather. Our Irish Island adventure came to an end last weekend when we flew back from Knock Airport to Düsseldorf, but we still have a head and an SD Card full of memories that we would like to share.

We are no strangers to the island and have many friends and acquaintances to keep us up-to-date with the island’s news. For example, on arrival, our holiday cottage was not prepared and we were happy to stay once more with our friends Elizabeth and John Barrett in the Keel village for a few nights. Elizabeth and John run the Bervie guesthouse which is situated right on the end of keel beach and it really is a delight from the minute you arrive till the moment you leave.

Like every other guest, we made much use of their well stocked reading room/sitting room, reading up on the islands history and the many notable people who had Achill Island Adventure of their own. The Irish painter Paul Henry, Nobel Prize winning author, Heinrich Böll, Novelist Graham Greene and American Painter Robert Henri have all spend considerable time on the island. As fans of Paul Henry’s Achill landscapes and seascapes we were also very happy to discover the work of Robert Henri, who focused on portraits of the Achill children between 1913 and 1924. A few examples below.

Image source – http://www.broadsheet.ie

Image source – http://www.artfact.com

Image source – http://www.broadsheet.ie

Once rented by Paul Henry during his stay on Achill Island. A local told us that unfortunately the building is destined to be torn down to their horror and the rest of the Keel villagers.